Dish washing machine

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and improved dish-washing machine accessible from all four sides thereof making it suitable for straight through or corner-type installation. The vertical legs are utilized for supporting the washer and receiving the electrical and plumbing mechanisms.

United States Patent Creston R. Southard Old Town, N.C.

June 19, 1969 Dec. 7, 1971 Creston Equipment Corporation Winston-Salem, N.C.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee DISH WASHING MACHINE 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 134/165, 134/57, 134/200 Int. Cl B0811) 3/02 Field of Search 134/165, 200,56 D1, 57 D, 58 D [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,439,823 12/1922 Kaufmann 134/57 X 1,737,693 12/1929 Webb et al.... 134/165 X 1,943,636 1/1934 Stoddard 134/56 2,217,705 10/1940 Rataiczak et al. 134/57 2,608,981 9/1952 Jackson 134/165 X 2,739,781 3/1956 Lyman 134/200 X 2,782,793 2/1957 Bradley et a1 134/200 X 2.912.988 11/1959 Kochendorffer 134/58 3,020,917 2/1962 Lyman 134/58 3,143,296 8/1964 Wall 134/165 X Primary Examinep-James Kee Chi A!turney David Rabin ABSTRACT: This invention relates to a new and improved dish-washing machine accessible from all four sides thereof making it suitable for straight through or corner-type installation. The vertical legs are utilized for supporting the washer and receiving the electrical and plumbing mechanisms.

PATENTEU DEC 7 IHYI SHEET 1 BF 3 HNVENTOR. GRESTON R. SOUTHARD mfovmy PATENTEDIFEB 1m 3525233 SHEET 3 0F 3 I NVENTOR. GRESTON RSOUTHARD attorney BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel dish-washing machine and more particularly to a dish-washing machine of the door-type model. Commercial dish-washing machines presently on the market are constructed such that normally two, and sometimes three and four, models or machines are required for proper article washing due to the various hood, tank, and track arrangements of the machines. Furthermore, many of such machines have various electrical devices and other equipment mounted to the sides and/or front of such machines thus creating a safety hazard due to the water and moisture conditions associated withthe machines and further subjecting such equipment to possible damage from mobile equipment normally related with a dish pantry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Namely, the present invention is directed to a washing machine having separate and distinct vertically spaced cabinets supported by tubular posts. A box-type door encloses the space between the spaced cabinets and is vertically movable upon the posts to provide access to the machine from all four sides. When a dish rack is inserted into the machine, it can be removed from any of the four sides depending upon the arrangement of the dish tables as installed in the kitchen.

The tubular posts provided at the four comers of the machine serve as stand pipes, supporting legs, door guide posts, conduit for electrical wiring, enclosures for hot water piping, etc. thus making it possible to eliminate all exterior vertical piping and conduit. As the door is raised and lowered, rollers mounted within the door are guided by the posts thus reducing friction and eliminating door side motion and providing for a smooth and free operating door. By utilizing the posts as door guides, the use of brass runner strips, plastic guides and die form guides for reducing friction caused by metal-tometal contact can be eliminated.

The upper cabinet completely houses the controls, gauges and door counterbalancing means making them convenient for servicing and protecting such from the spray zone. A plugin type electrical box is slidably received within the upper cabinet and can be readily removed for service.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of the washing machine which is simple in construction, is efficient in operation and which is capable of handling large quantities of articles for rapid and thorough washing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dish-washing machine suitable for either a straight through type of operation or a corner installation operation.

A further object of the invention is to house all mechanical components of the machine within the confines of the overall dimensions of the machine to eliminate damage to equipment which would normally be in a position to become damaged due to the water spray and/or movement of the kitchen equipment.

Another object of the invention is to locate the control area at eye level on top of the main structure out of the way of water and high moisture conditions and away from possible damage by dish trucks and other mobile dish equipment.

Still another feature of this invention is the elimination of separate support legs, door guide channels, stand pipes and other raceways normally required for electrical conduit, etc., by the incorporation of tubular posts adjacent the corners of the machine.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a boxtype door unit for providing access to the machine from all four sides for cleaning and airing the machine.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dish-washing machine made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the machine with the outside cover portions removed and with the door in a raised position for illustrating certain of the machine components.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the machine with the door and upper cabinet removed and illustrating a dish rack mounted in the wash compartment.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 3 illustrating the door counterbalance mechanism in the control box.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3 illustrating the spray manifolds and the track mechanism for supporting a dish rack.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the machine with the parts broken away to illustrate the spray heads or manifolds and the drain mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of one of the spray nozzles mounted at the end of a spray manifold and illustrating the spray cone of water as it leaves the nozzle.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified rinse manifold arrangement wherein a plurality of rinse spray heads or manifolds are employed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the various electrical components and circuitry of the machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention and referring to the details illustrated in the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 through 3, the washing machine 10 comprises an upper cabinet structure 12 and a vertically spaced lower cabinet structure 14. A boxlike door structure 16 normally positioned between the cabinet structures 12 and 14 encloses the washing compartment 18. Water is supplied to spray devices or manifolds 20-24 located in the upper and lower regions of the washing compartment 18 for washing and rinsing articles within the compartment.

As most clearly shown by FIG. 2, the rinse tank 35, wash tank 71, wash pump 30, motor 73 and the lower rinse pan 72 are received within the lower cabinet structure 14. Water is supplied through a solenoid valve 75 to tank 35 and is heated by the unit 76. A similar type heat unit is provided for heating the water within wash tank 71. Heat units 76, 90 are provided with an adjustable thermostat and provided with suitable positive action shutoff switches in the event of overheating or low water conditions within the tanks.

Water is initially supplied through the rinse water supply lines and manifolds, in a manner to be subsequently described, to fill the wash tank 71. Thereafter, motor 73 operates pump 30 to force wash water through manifolds 20, 21 thus rotating such manifolds to wash articles located within the compartment 18. An overflow pipe 91 having a receiver portion at its upper end normally rests on O-ring 92 such that as tank 71 becomes filled, water overflows into pipe 91 and through a suitable drain connection. However, when it is desirable to completely drain wash tank 71, manually operable drain valve 93 is rotated 90 unseating overflowing pipe 91 from O-ring 92 allowing all water to be drained from the tank.

Extending through the cabinet structure l2, l4 and providing support therefor are vertically extending tubular posts 25-28 located adjacent the corners of the cabinet structures. Adjustable feet 29, preferably of stainless steel, are incorporated into the lower ends of each post to facilitate leveling of the machine. The lower cabinet structure 14 is supported by the posts 25-28 a distance above the floor to provide clearance below the cabinet structure 14 to facilitate cleaning underneath the machine. By utilizing the various posts 25-28 in a manner to be described, it is possible to eliminate separate supporting legs, vertical door guide channels, separate stand pipes, and other raceways required for piping and electrical conduit. The front right-hand tubular post 25, as viewed from the front of the machine in FIG. 2, serves as a supporting leg for the machine, as a guide for a vertically movable door 16, and as a stand pipe for supplying water to the upper and lower wash manifolds 20, 21. Water is supplied from the pump 30, through line 31 and into the tubular post 25. Lines 32 and 33 connect the upper and lower wash manifolds 20, 21, respectively, to the post 25, as shown most clearly in FIG. 6. Post 26 serves as a support leg, door guide, and conduit for electrical wiring 34 extending from a control area located adjacent the top of the machine within the upper cabinet structure 12 to the various electrical components within the cabinet structure 14. Post 27 is utilized as a door guide, support leg, and as a raceway or enclosure for the hot water piping. Rinse water is supplied to the lower rinse manifold 23 from the rinse tank 35, through copper line 36 extending upwardly within post 27, between posts 27 and 28, as most clearly shown by FIG. 4, and downwardly through post 28, as shown by FIG. 3, to the manifold 23. A water temperature gauge 37 and a vacuum breaker 38 are inserted in line 36 as shown by FIG. 4. The post 28 serves as a guide for the door 16, as a support leg, and can also be utilized to receive a counterbalance, to be described later.

The upper cabinet structure 12 includes a baseplate or hood 40 supported adjacent the upper end of the post 25-28. A control circuit box 41 of the pullout type is received within the cabinet structure 12. A male connector portion 42 attached to the rear of the control box 41 is received within a female connector 43 attached to hood 40 when box 41 is properly positioned. The box is releasably received within cabinet structure 12 and can be conveniently and slidably removable therefrom for easy servicing of the various controls mounted therein. It is to be noted that the control box 41 is positioned at operator eye-level for convenient operation and out of the way of moisture and possible damage from dish trucks and other portable equipment normally used in a dish pantry.

Door 16 is a boxlike structure mounted for vertical movement to provide easy access to the washing compartment 18 from all four sides. Such an arrangement provides for straight through operation of the machine or for a corner installation of the machine. Support means 44 for plastic rollers 45 are provided at each corner of the door structure, as shown by FIG. 2. By positioning the rollers outside the posts 2528 for rolling contact therewith during door movement, excessive wear and door side motions are eliminated. To assist in elevating and lowering the door, a counterbalance mechanism is provided within the cabinet structure 12. A preferred form of counterbalance mechanism consists of cables 48 that extend down through openings in plate 40 and connect to the inside service of the door 16 as shown at 49. Each cable passes over a guide or pulley 50 supported by brackets 51 and is wound on a spring-type retriever reel 52 mounted on bracket 53 at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane so as to guide the cable in the proper path as it leaves the reel 52 and extends over the pulley 50 to the door 16. By employing the aforementioned counterbalancing mechanism the door 16 can be raised to a vertical position by applying slightly pressure to handle 17 located on the door. Further, by positioning the pulleys, pulley supports, and reels on top of the plate 40, they are conveniently located for servicing and are out of the water spray zone, thus greatly increasing their life expectancy. The counterbalance means preferably utilizes constant tension spring ring retriever reels of the type manufactured by the Hunter Spring Company of Hatfield, Pa.

Alternatively, a counterbalance means could be employed wherein the door cables are guided over pulleys located within the cabinet structure 12 and attached to a counterweight slidably received in one of the support posts. A sash tape of the constant force type also could be used to provide a counterbalance effect for the door 16.

As a further alternative, power means can be provided for automatically elevating the door upon completion of a dishwashing cycle. In this construction a small brake-type gear motor, replacing retriever reels 52, is mounted within cabinet structure 12. The motor is of a reversible type operable to close the door 16 upon actuation of a manual switch conveniently positioned on the machine. The motor can be actuated by timer 79 upon completion ofa wash cycle to automatically open the door for air drying of the dishes, thus relieving the machine operator of this duty.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing, a track arrangement or tray support frame 55 is provided to support dish racks within compartment 18 such that a rack or tray of articles to be washed can be slidably inserted into or removed from the washing compartment 18 between any two of the supporting posts 25-28. In other words, a dish rack can be inserted into or removed from the machine from any of the four sides depending upon the arrangement of the dish tables as installed in a particular kitchen.

Referring to the spray manifolds 20-24 and more particularly to the rinse manifolds 22, 23, it is to be noted that each end of such manifolds have incorporated therein a hollow cone, wide angle nozzle 60. FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of the nozzle supported within fitting 61 attached to one end of the manifold 23. The spray exists from the nozzles in a manner illustrated by the broken line configuration of FIG. 7, thus giving a better rinse in the corner areas ofa rack and particularly to articles such as glasses and the like being rinsed. The jet nozzles 65 on the sides of the manifolds 22, 23 are positioned so as to rotate the manifolds at a speed of approximately 40 revolutions per minute. Revolving wash manifolds 20, 21 are provided with spray openings 66 positioned so as to eliminate a so-called blind spot near the center of the manifolds for insuring complete washing of articles within the compartment 18.

FIG. 8 of the drawing illustrates a modified revolving spray arrangement wherein four, spaced, revolving, lower spray rinse headers or manifolds 98 are incorporated to completely cover the rack area from below to obtain proper rinsing of glasses. Although not illustrated, a wash manifold of the type shown by FIG. 2 would be mounted below the rinse manifolds 98.

The machine is designed for I 15 volt, single phase, or 230 volt, single or three-phase operation and is arranged for manual or automatic operation. During automatic operation of the machine, the articles are washed for 45 seconds and rinsed for 15 seconds for a total wash-rinse cycle of 60 seconds. Switches 80-83 are of the oil-tite type having indicator lights mounted therein. Wash switch 81 and rinse switch 82 are selector switches adapted for manual or automatic operation. Start switch 80 is of the momentary pushbutton type while manual switch 83 controls operation of the heater assembly 76. The various electrical components and devices of the machine have been illustrated by FIG. 9 in the automatic power-off position. Wash pump 30 is controlled by timer 79 which energizes relay 77 fused through block 78 to the applicable voltage of pump motor 73. Numerals 42 and 43 represent 50 amp., nine pin, male and female connectors, respectively. By this arrangement, the various switches 80-83, timer 79, relay 77, etc., mounted within control box 41 can be conveniently serviced by slidably removing the box from cabinet structure 12 thus disconnecting connector 42 fixed to box 41 from connector 43 which is secured to hood 40.

The location of the control box 41 makes it convenient to position a microswitch adjacent the door 16 such that when the door is opened slightly the electrical circuitry would be disconnected eliminating the possibility of injury to an operator. This safety feature has many benefits, particularly in school use where machines are sometimes operated by students.

The present machine can also be provided with detergent and rinse additive injectors of the type manufactured by the Dema Engineering Company of St. Louis, Missouri, when required. Such injectors would be mounted in the water lines within the confines of the machine so as to eliminate various detergent equipment from being mounted at positions on the machine which could otherwise become damaged or detract from the appearance of the machine.

The heating units for the water tanks on this machine have been shown as emersion electric-type elements. Alternatively, the water tanks could be heated by using an infrared-type burner which gives almost complete combustion eliminating raw gas odors and eliminating the need for venting. Such burners are manufactured by Hupp Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio.

The door, track arrangement, front enclosing lower cabinet structure, and all wash sprays and supporting posts are preferably constructed of stainless steel to eliminate the possibility of corrosion.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, considered in all respects to be illustrated and not restrictive.

I claim:

1. ln a dish-washing machine adapted to receive racks of dishes to be washed, upper and lower vertically spaced cabinet structures for cooperatively receiving therebetween racks of dishes from each of four sides, said structures having spray manifolds located therein, a plurality of vertically disposed, supports for maintaining said cabinet structures in spaced vertical relation, said supports being laterally spaced to receive racks of dishes therebetween from any of the four sides of said cabinet structures, and a vertically movable four-sided, open top door positioned for vertical displacement upon said supports between said structures to close and open access between said cabinet structures.

2. The machine of claim 1 including track means located within the confines of said supports for receiving dish racks from all sides of said machine when said door is in an elevated position.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said door encompasses said supports, said supports being of hollow construction and providing guide means for said movable door.

4. The machine of claim 3 including counterbalance means for providing lift assist functions to said door.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein said counterbalance means includes cable means attached to said door and constant tension spring retriever reels housed within one of said cabinet structures.

6. The machine of claim 1 wherein at least one of said supports serves as a conduit for supplying fluid to said manifolds.

7. A machine of claim 1 wherein said upper cabinet contains the electrical controls and components of said machine, and at least one of said supports provides a conduit for wiring extending to said controls.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the electrical controls are housed within a plug-in box recessed within the upper cabinet structure.

9. In a dish-washing machine of the character described, support frame means including a plurality of vertically extending posts, rinse and wash water tanks supported by said posts, vertically spaced wash and rinse manifolds supported by said posts, means for supplying water from said tanks through said posts to said manifolds, and means for supplying electrical power from a source, through said posts, to electrical controls of said machine.

10. The machine of claim 9 including a vertically movable box-type door cooperable with said manifolds for forming a washing compartment, said supports providing guide means for said door. 

1. In a dish-washing machine adapted to receive racks of dishes to be washed, upper and lower vertically spaced cabinet structures for cooperatively receiving therebetween racks of dishes from each of four sides, said structures having spray manifolds located therein, a plurality of vertically disposed, supports for maintaining said cabinet structures in spaced vertical relation, said supports being laterally spaced to receive racks of dishes therebetween from any of the four sides of said cabinet structures, and a vertically movable four-sided, open top door positioned for vertical displacement upon said supports between said structures to close and open access between said cabinet structures.
 2. The machine of claim 1 including track means located within the confines of said supports for receiving dish racks from all sides of said machine when said door is in an elevated position.
 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said door encompasses said supports, said supports being of hollow construction and providing guide means for said movable door.
 4. The machine of claim 3 including counterbalance means for providing lift assist functions to said door.
 5. The machine of claim 4 wherein said counterbalance means includes cable means attached to said door and constant tension spring retriever reels housed within one of said cabinet structures.
 6. The machine of claim 1 wherein at least one of said supports serves as a conduit for supplying fluid to said manifolds.
 7. A machine of claim 1 wherein said upper cabinet contains the electrical controls and components of said machine, and at least one of said supports provides a conduit for wiring extending to said controls.
 8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the electrical controls are housed wiThin a plug-in box recessed within the upper cabinet structure.
 9. In a dish-washing machine of the character described, support frame means including a plurality of vertically extending posts, rinse and wash water tanks supported by said posts, vertically spaced wash and rinse manifolds supported by said posts, means for supplying water from said tanks through said posts to said manifolds, and means for supplying electrical power from a source, through said posts, to electrical controls of said machine.
 10. The machine of claim 9 including a vertically movable box-type door cooperable with said manifolds for forming a washing compartment, said supports providing guide means for said door. 